During Tommy John surgery, the ulna collateral ligament is replaced with another tendon.

“Garrett weighed all the evidence that was given to him through MRI exams, he researched the process, talked to people who have gone through the procedure and people who have not and came to this decision,” Eppler said, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Billy Eppler, the Angels’ general manager, weighed in on Richards’ choice to bypass Tommy John surgery for stem cell therapy by saying the team has his back.

Richards’ manager, Mike Scioscia, also threw (pun not intended) his support behind Richards, saying that all options were considered.

He noted that a Tommy John operation is very serious and indicated it’s probably not the first option players should turn to.

“He got input from numerous sources, both players and doctors, and felt this was the best course of action … to heal and get healthy,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think you want to jump into any kind of surgery, let alone one [with] the magnitude of Tommy John surgery.”

While talking about Richards, many have compared his situation to former Angels pitcher Bartolo Colon, who played for the team from 2004 to 2007.

After receiving the treatment several years ago, the 42-year-old Colon is still playing in the majors.

For those wondering how Colon has fared on the mound since his operation, consider the current Mets pitcher’s impressive stat line: 3.67 ERA and 68-43 record over 155 games.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are unique in that, with a scientist’s assistance, they can transform into other cells in the body. As long as the patient is still breathing, these cells can replace damaged or lost cells and repair broken areas of the body.

Many people, including professional athletes, opt for stem cell therapy for sports injuries over surgery because the operation is much less invasive.

In the case of athletes, it also provides them with the opportunity to possibly get back on the field faster – an important note considering their contracts are often laden with performance incentive bonuses.

Whether you pitch for a major league club or you’re writing reports for your company, stem cell therapy is a viable alternative to invasive surgery.

If you would like to learn more, contact Longevity and Stem Cell Centre of Houston.